A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, A NEW GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE BASS MUSEUM, INC. (THE "BASS"), FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MIAMI BEACH BETA TEST FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATHEMATICS ("STEAM") PLUS PROGRAM FOR ALL SIX CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (KINDERGARTEN-12TH GRADE) FOR FY 2019-2020, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $372,000.00, FOR AN INITIAL ONE-YEAR TERM, WITH TWO (2) ONE-YEAR RENEWAL TERMS, AT THE CITY'S OPTION AND SUBJECT TO FUNDING APPROPRIATION AND APPROVAL BY THE CITY COMMISSION DURING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR; AND APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE CURRENT GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE BASS; SAID AMENDMENT EXTENDING THE AGREEMENT TERM FROM JUNE 7, 2019 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2019, USING THE REMAINDER OF THE APPROVED FY 2018-2019 FUNDS, IN THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF $42,000.00, IN PREPARATION FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, FOR PLANNING AND THE PURCHASE OF STEAM MATERIALS FOR AN ADDITIONAL CLASS AT FIENBERG FISHER K-8 CENTER AND FOR OTHER MIAMI BEACH PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE FINAL AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT; AND FURTHER APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENTS WITH SIX (6) CONTRACTORS TO SERVE AS A STEAM LIAISON FOR EACH OF THE SIX CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, FOR A TOTAL FEE NOT TO EXCEED $1,000 PER CONTRACTOR, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6,000.00.

The administration recommends that the Mayor and the City Commission approve a new grant agreement between the City and the Bass for the 2019-2020 school year for an additional one (1) year through September 30, 2020 in an amount not to exceed $372,000.

Additionally, the administration recommends the approval of an amendment to the current grant agreement with the Bass extending the existing agreement term from June 7, 2019 through September 30, 2019 and using the remainder of the approved FY 2018-2019 funds, in the approximate amount of $42,000, in preparation of the 2019-2020 school year and for the purchase of STEAM materials for an additional class at Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center and other Miami Beach public schools.

Also, the administration recommends the approval to execute independent contractor agreements with six (6) contractors to serve as a STEAM liaison for each of the six City public schools during the 2019-2020 school year, for a total fee not to exceed $1,000 per contractor, in the total amount not to exceed $6,000.00.

In January 2008, the City of Miami Beach entered into an Education Compact with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to enhance learning opportunities for youth.  The Compact reflects the desire of the Miami Beach community to support excellence in the City’s public schools and currently addresses and supports the following priority areas: Teacher Recruitment/Retention; Communication; Parental Involvement/Family Support; Youth and Community Engagement; Health and Well-Being; Student Achievement; Safety; and Technology.

On April 15, 2015, the Mayor and the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2015-28997, which directed the Administration to expand the Compact to address the following areas:  Early Learning; Extracurricular/Choice Offerings; and Afterschool Programming.

The City has entered into contracts with M-DCPS and other organizations for the following initiatives:  Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) at Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center and Biscayne Elementary; Dual Enrollment Expansion through partnerships with Florida International University, and Miami-Dade College at Miami Beach Senior High School and Nautilus Middle School; and an Afterschool Teen Program at Nautilus Middle School.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (“STEM”) to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (“STEAM”) movement has been taking root over the past several years and is surging forward as a positive model of action to truly meet the needs of a 21^st century economy.  STEM alone, without the Arts component, misses several key components that many employers, educators, and parents have voiced as critical for our children to thrive in the present and rapidly approaching future.  STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.

Given the expanded approach offered by STEAM, the City of Miami Beach has explored options to help promote the deployment of a STEAM Initiative in Miami Beach Public Schools and, as part of this effort, the City Manager and the Mayor of Miami Beach met with M-DCPS Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, to explore the opportunity to deploy STEAM as part of the regular school curriculum in the 2018-19 school year.

On January 16, 2019 the Mayor and the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2019-30690, authorizing the City Manager and City Clerk to execute a grant agreement with the Friends of the Bass Museum, Inc. for the implementation of a Beta Test for a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Plus program with all six Miami Beach public schools (kindergarten - 12th grade) and six local cultural institutions.  The participating cultural institutions included the Bass Museum, Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, the Jewish Museum, the Wolfsonian, and Young Musicians United; and, the schools include Biscayne Elementary, Feinberg Fisher, Nautilus Middle, North Beach Elementary, Miami Beach Senior High School, and South Pointe Elementary.

The program is referred to as a STEAM Plus initiative, and is intended to inspire students to engage and prepare in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to work with cultural anchors to infuse theatre, visual arts, dance, and music in traditional class offerings.  The “Plus” component of the STEAM Plus initiative is the City’s pilot program to promote career and college readiness.

The 2018-2019 Beta Test concept provided survey data for continued STEAM programming with 82.9% of school administrator responses requesting that the program continue (41 responses total), and 95.0% of parent responses requesting that the program continues (61 responses total).